About this Publication

The European VISIT (Voluntary Initiative for Sustainability in Tourism)
initiative has been designed to demonstrate how tourism eco-labels
in Europe can collaborate and move the tourism market towards sustainability.
This publication should help the reader to gain a better understanding
of this joint initiative, and identify the opportunities and mutual
benefits of collaboration.
The texts, tables and illustrations should encourage:

destination managers to assess and monitor their progress towards
sustainability and quality.

eco-labelling bodies to identify their strengths as well
as their potential for improvement and contribute to more sustainable
tourism in the destinations.

tourism suppliers to apply
for certification of their good environmental performance.

tourist
boards, tour guide publishers, tour operators, travel agencies
to collaborate with VISIT eco-labels, to prioritise and promote
certified products with added value for both clients and the
environment.

stakeholder associations, as well as politicians
to recognise and support the potential of harmonisation and strengthening “eco-labelling” in
the context of complementary initiatives and legislation.

all
professionals in tourism to contribute, to develop, improve,
promote and market eco-labels and their underlying projects as “the
better choice” and to monitor and report on
the progress towards more sustainable tourism in Europe.

The chapters focus on some key aspects of the current situation
and the results of the VISIT initiative so far, giving examples and
ideas of individual and joint action. A list of contacts is provided
for further information and to exchange experiences and build partnerships.
This publication was produced as part of the demonstration project “Eco-labels
for Sustainable Tourism in Europe: demonstrating how eco-labels can
move the European tourism market towards sustainability (ECO-LAB)” with
financial support from the European Commission LIFE ENVIRONMENT programme.